Gorges State Park - Stairway & Sidepocket Falls (6-5-16)

This particular hike definitely falls into the 'unintentional adventure' category of which my wanderings occasionally take me. All I was intending to do on this morning was to make the familiar four-mile out-and-back along the Rainbow Falls Trail. I just wanted to get out of the house for a couple hours and enjoy a nice easy stroll in the woods. My plans took a turn for the adventurous when I decided to include the short side trip down to Stairway Falls as a bonus. Then, upon arriving at Stairway, I noticed the faint path heading downstream towards Sidepocket Falls. I had never been to Sidepocket. I had the time. Things had been just too unnaturally easy this day. A quick exploratory hike did sound fun...should I? Yeah, I definitely should! Thus began a short but...let's put it nicely...interesting...hike to Sidepocket Falls, perhaps the least well known cascade along the wild and mighty Horsepasture River.

Though I did include a quick run up to Rainbow and Turtleback Falls I'm not going to include them in this trip report. Trust me, if you decide to do this hike, Stairway and Sidepocket will be plenty for you. The route begins at the busy and confusingly-named Grassy Ridge Trailhead in Gorges State Park. From the trailhead I'd follow the Rainbow Falls Trail down towards the Horsepasture, making the left turn onto the unofficial path to Stairway about a mile in. The path to Stairway is steep at times and a bit rugged, but its easy to follow. Everything easy about this hike ends, however, upon arrival at Stairway. Just before making the final drop to the river below Stairway Falls a faint path can be noticed heading into the woods downstream. This is the 'path' to Sidepocket. On this day the route was fairly obvious but there were numerous places along the way where foliage, downed trees, and rock ledges obscured things and caused confusion. That and the terrain is rugged, something that no veteran of off-trail hiking in this region should be surprised with.

That's about all the detail I'm willing to give. This hike is NOT for novices. If you don't take a twisted pride in coming back from a hike bruised and possibly bloodied, then this one isn't for you. Instead, let me do the hard work for you and come on along with me as I visit one of the wildest parts of North Carolina's famous Horsepasture River. Enjoy!!!

Gorges State Park - Stairway & Sidepocket Falls (6-5-16)

The barrage of trailhead kiosks at the familiar start point for the Rainbow Falls Trail...

Stairway-Sidepocket Falls Hike Route Map

My route as tracked by Gaia GPS...

Stairway-Sidepocket Falls Hike Route Map

My route as tracked by Gaia GPS and depicted by Google Earth...

Rainbow Falls Trail

In addition to the kiosk forest, a couple other frantic signs warn visitors of the dangers of visiting the waterfalls ahead...

Rainbow Falls Trail

Beginning the gradual descent into the gorge...

Mountain Laurel

A waterfall of a different kind pours from the branches overhead...

Rainbow Falls Trail

Within a few minutes I had arrived at the junction with the Raymond Fisher Trail...

Rainbow Falls-Raymond Fisher Trail

I'd be continuing right on the Rainbow Falls Trail. A left on the Raymond Fisher Trail would, in a half-mile, take me to the parks only developed campground...

Rainbow Falls Trail

The popularity of the trail is evidenced in its wide, smooth cut through the forest...

Rainbow Falls Trail

Though some guidebooks rate this trail as strenuous, its anything but in my opinion. At least, compared with many other mountain footpaths I've traveled...

Rainbow Falls Trail

Greenery above me...

Rainbow Falls Trail

Where the trail passes from State Park property into National Forest property you are 'greeted' once again with a rather obnoxious warning sign...

Rainbow Falls Trail

As I descended the humidity, already thick, became even more so...

Rainbow Falls Trail

Another shot of the trail as it winds its way through the beautiful forest down into the gorge...

Indian Pipe

A rare treat...

Rainbow Falls Trail-Stairway Falls Path Junction

About a mile in, just a short distance before the Rainbow Falls Trail reaches its low point (elevation-wise), an unmarked carsonite stake marks the unmaintained side trail down to Stairway Falls...

Rainbow Falls Trail-Stairway Falls Path Junction

Another wider shot of the point where the trail to Stairway Falls breaks off from the Rainbow Falls Trail...

Stairway Falls Path

The first part of the path down to Stairway is easy to follow, though it is quite steep in places...

Horsepasture River

Soon the path dumped me into a backcountry campsite with this beautiful view of the Horsepasture River nearby...

Stairway Falls Path

Excusing my passage through the occupied backcountry campsite I once again picked up the trail to Stairway Falls...

Stairway Falls Path

The path between the campsite and Stairway continues to be quite easy to follow but it does get a bit narrower and steeper as it follows the river downstream...

Stairway Falls Path

Before long I had been deposited once again along the banks of the Horsepasture, just below Satirway Falls...

Stairway Falls

Stairway Falls as it crashes down from above, at the point where the trail reaches the river...

Stairway Falls

The multi-tiered cascade that is Stairway Falls is a favorite of mine...not only for its beauty and unique design, but for the lack of crowds which plague its neighbors upstream...

Stairway Falls

A short vid of Stairway Falls...

Stairway Falls-Sidepocket Falls Path Junction

In this shot you can see the final scramble down to the river beneath Stairway on the right. To the left, over the logs, a faint path continues in a downstream direction. This would be my 'path' to Sidepocket...

Sidepocket Falls Path

The Horsepasture River can be seen through the trees as I begin down the path to Sidepocket...

Sidepocket Falls Path

A small sign notifies me that I had once again bumped up against the State Park boundary...

Southern Gray-cheeked Salamader

This little guy decided to poke his head out and see what I was up to as I took a quick break to check my progress...

Southern Gray-cheeked Salamader

I am no salamander expert...that said the above ID is a best-guess. If anyone would like to verify or correct my naming of this little guy, please let me know...

Southern Gray-cheeked Salamader

I am no salamander expert...that said the above ID is a best-guess. If anyone would like to verify or correct my naming of this little guy, please let me know...

Sidepocket Falls Path

Around the rocks and under the trees, I continued on...

Sidepocket Falls Path

As you can see the terrain around here is quite interesting to travel through...

Sidepocket Falls Path

A collection of brightly colored fungi inhabiting the base of a large tree along my route...

Sidepocket Falls Path

A recent blowdown reveals the Horsepasture far below me...

Sidepocket Falls Path

Hand-and-knee travel was required in spots...

Sidepocket Falls Path

I normally despise flagging tape but here, I had to admit, what was left from previous hikers was helpful at times...

Sidepocket Falls Path

My one wrong turn ended me up down at the river again. I didn't mind a bit, however, as you'll see in the following shots...

Horsepasture River

My wrong turn had brought me here. Across the river a massive sloping cliff face rose from the river while upstream a pretty multi-tiered cascade added even more wildness to the scene...

Horsepasture River

A quick vid of my unplanned stop along the Horsepasture River...

Horsepasture River

I decided to hop downstream a ways to see if I could re-locate the trail. I enjoyed some fun rock-hopping but was forced to climb back into the woods from where I came to get back on the right path...

Sidepocket Falls Path

The going continued to be rough, to say the least...

Sidepocket Falls Path

One of the rare spots where the path was almost obvious...

Sidepocket Falls Path

Giant dead hemlocks tower overhead as I wade through a thick tangle of rhododendron...

Sidepocket Falls Path

After what seemed like an eternity the path petered out atop a steep, brush covered ravine. I could water crashing below and I assumed I was somewhere above Sidepocket Falls. I just had to get down to it....

Sidepocket Falls

After a steep, brier-infested slide/descent I emerged at at last alongside Sidepocket Falls...

Sidepocket Falls

The full 40-foot height of Sidepocket isn't easily seen from the rocks I had descended to directly to its front. No matter, it was still a beauty...

Sidepocket Falls

A short vid of the wild and seldom-seen Sidepocket Falls on the Horsepasture River...